'Hawkeye' Giora Even Epstein, world’s top supersonic jet ace, dies at 87

Brig. Gen. (res.) Giora Even Epstein, the most decorated pilot in the history of the Israeli Air Force (IAF), died on Saturday at the age of 87. Known by the nickname “Hawkeye,” he holds an unmatched aerial combat record, having shot down 16 Egyptian fighter jets and one Egyptian helicopter, according to the Times of Israel.

Flying the Mirage III as part of Israel’s elite Squadron 101, Even Epstein participated in the Six-Day War, the War of Attrition, and the Yom Kippur War. He engaged in numerous dogfights against Soviet-made MiG-17s, MiG-21s, Su-7s, and other aircraft used by Arab air forces, earning his place as the world’s top jet ace.

It was his actions in the Yom Kippur War – where 12 of his 17 confirmed shootdowns occurred – that earned him the Medal of Distinguished Service, Israel’s highest military honor. This extraordinary feat remains unmatched, cementing his legacy as an aviation legend worldwide.

Born in 1938 in the southern Israeli community of Kibbutz Negba, he developed a fascination with aviation from a young age, watching planes fly over his home. Drafted into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 1956, he was twice rejected from pilot training due to medical reasons. Undeterred, he volunteered for the Paratroopers Brigade and later became a full-time parachuting instructor. He eventually appealed his disqualification and succeeded, graduating from flight school with honors in 1963.

Even Epstein served in the Israeli Air Force from 1961 to 1997 – on active duty until 1977, then in the reserves – before transitioning to a civilian career as a pilot for El Al, Israel’s largest commercial airline.

Before his discharge from the IAF, Epstein logged over 9,000 flight hours and played a key role in establishing Israel’s air superiority. In 2018, his legacy was formally honored when then-IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot promoted him to the rank of brigadier general during a special ceremony.

“This is an expression of immense respect and appreciation,” Eisenkot said. “You belong to the founding generation that built the IDF’s capabilities and passed on a legacy of dedication, victory, and excellence.”

Retired Col. Avner Yarkoni, a fellow fighter pilot, paid tribute on 𝕏: “The Giora has passed. A fearless warrior. A true friend. A kind and beloved man. And everything they say about him – it’s all true.”

Noam Lanir, the son of Lt. Col. Avi Lanir – Epstein’s squadron commander in 1973 who died in Syrian captivity – was also among those who paid tribute.

Reflecting on his childhood memories, Lanir shared in a Facebook post: “I looked up to them. As a child, I remember Giora knitting sweaters at home and cooking – and then going out and shooting down more MiGs than anyone else.”